First-Class Mail is required for personal correspondence, handwritten or typewritten material, and bills or statements of account. It also may be used for any mailable item including advertisements and lightweight merchandise.

Mailings of 500 or more addressed pieces, 100% delivery point or Intelligent Mail barcoded, sorted, and marked as described below. All pieces must be automation-compatible (201.3.0). Pieces mailed at card prices and pieces mailed at letter prices must meet separate 500-piece minimums.

Each piece must also include a complete delivery address with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code.

For address standards, see 233.5.5; for barcode standards see 708.4.0; and for CASS/MASS standards see 708.3.0.

Addresses on all pieces must be updated within 95 days before mailing through a USPS-approved address update method (e.g., ACS, NCOALink, FASTforward, or the appropriate ancillary service endorsement except Forwarding Service Requested, under 507.1.5). For an overview of the Move Update standards, see Quick Service Guide 230a.

Addresses must be matched using CASS/MASS-certified process within 180 days before mailing.

Supporting documentation: required unless correct price affixed to each piece or unless each piece is of identical weight and separated by price when presented for acceptance; documentation generated by PAVE-certified software (or printed in standardized format).

Mark each piece: "First-Class Mail," and "AUTO" in the postage area. For optional marking location, see 202.3.0. Pieces bearing a delivery point POSTNET or Intelligent Mail barcode in the address block or on an insert visible through a window do not require the additional "AUTO" marking. Pieces not marked "AUTO" must bear both the "Presorted" or "PRSRT" and "First-Class Mail" markings. For price markings applied by MLOCRs, see 202.3.5. Pieces not claimed at an automation price must not be marked "AUTO" unless single-piece postage is affixed or a corrective single-piece price marking is applied under 235.5.1.2.

When preparing full trays, mailers must fill all possible 2-foot trays first; if there is mail remaining for the presort destination, mailers must use a combination of 1-foot and 2-foot trays that result in the fewest total number of trays for that presort level.

Preparation

Trays: Optional, but required for 5-digit price. 150-piece minimum to same 5-digit/scheme destination; bundling not permitted except for card-sized pieces; only one overflow tray permitted per destination.2

Barcoded Labels: Line 1: For 5-digit scheme trays, use destination in City State Product. For 5-digit trays, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail.

Price: 5-Digit

3-Digit/Scheme

Trays: Optional, but required for 3-digit pieces; 150 pieces to same 3-digit/scheme destination; bundling not permitted; only one overflow tray permitted per destination.2

Exception: After all full trays are prepared, one less-than-full tray must be prepared for any remaining pieces for each 3-digit/scheme of SCF serving post office where mail is verified.

Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column B, for destination facility.

Trays: Optional, but required for AADC price; 150 pieces to same AADC; bundling not permitted; overflow pieces from 3-digit trays grouped by 3-digit/scheme destination; only one overflow tray permitted per destination.2

Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L801, Column B for destination facility.

2Instead of preparing overflow trays with fewer than 150 pieces, mailers may include pieces in the next tray level if it results in at least 150 pieces in that tray. The price is based on the overflow tray that would have been made (i.e., pieces placed in a 3-digit tray in lieu of 5-digit overflow trays are eligible for the 5-digit price). Pieces placed in the next tray level must be grouped by destination and placed in the front or back of the tray. This option may be used selectively for 3-digit/scheme and AADC ZIP Codes. The overflow option does not apply to 3-digit origin trays.

3AADC price for any 3-digit/scheme tray for the origin SCF area containing fewer than 150 pieces.